“You really need to start doing that. You’re not getting any younger.”
For a second Puller thought she was going to say, “We're not getting any younger.”
“Sound advice.”
“Only if you take it. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything on the plate. In the meantime try not to get killed down there. I’m just starting to like you.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“So you said your aunt left you the house?” “What the lawyer told me.”
“A house in Paradise?”
“Guess so.”
“I might have to come down and check it out.”
“Why’s that?” he said.
“Hell, isn’t it obvious? I’ve never been to Paradise before. Like to see if it lives up to its billing.”
“Well, it hasn’t so far.”
Puller clicked off and pondered what to do next. He looked at his watch. Now that he didn’t have to go down to the police station and press charges he had a little free time before his dinner with Landry.
He had some items on his to-do list.
Check out the lawyer Griffin Mason.
Check on Diego and his cousins.
Duplicate the ten-mile there-and-back trip his aunt might have taken.
He made up his mind quickly: check on Diego and his cousins.
Just in case.
CHAPTER 41
“He is gone.”
Puller stood in the doorway of Diego’s small apartment and looked down at Isabel. Little Mateo was behind her, his thumb stuck in his mouth.
“Is that unusual?” asked Puller. “Him not being here? It seemed to me that he spent a lot of time on the streets.”
“He comes back for lunch. But he did not. He always comes by six, but he did not,” said Isabel. “Do you have a phone?”
She shook her head.
“When did he leave?”
“This morning. I worked late at the restaurant with mi abuela. Diego was here looking after Mateo. He left before I got up. Mi abuela did not hear him leave either. I am very worried.”
“Did he say last night what he might be doing today?”
She shook her head again. “He usually goes down to the beach. He sells things to the tourists. Sometimes he works for the hotels.”
“He’s too young for that, isn’t he?”
She looked at him like he was crazy.
Puller said, “Okay, I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
Puller looked at the bruises both had received from the gang of three. “Have any of those punks come around here, Isabel?”
“I have seen none of them. I hear that you beat them up again. And their friends.”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“I just hear it.”
Puller nodded. “I’m going to get you a disposable phone and leave you my contact info. That way you can reach me and I can get in touch with you, okay?”
She nodded.
It took Puller about half an hour, but he dropped the phone off and then climbed into his Tahoe and drove off.
As much as he didn’t like it, Diego would have to wait. He hoped the boy was okay. But something was telling him that wasn’t the case.
Twenty minutes later he pulled onto the street where Griffin Mason had his law office. The same Infiniti was in the driveway.
“Then why would people use him?”
“He must hide his tracks well.”
“But you must know differently. How?”
“Let me put it this way. I’ve been practicing law down here pretty much as long as he has. Our client list is very similar. We handle the same sorts of cases. Trusts and estates lawyers are not like the Wall Street M and A guys. We don’t get rich doing this. I sure as hell haven’t, and I work my ass off, excuse the language.”
“But Mason has gotten rich?”